Bench a presence for Cal in victory over Virginia St.
California University women’s basketball team huddles after beating Virginia State Friday and holds their fingers up to represent the number 44 in honor of a teammate, Shanice Clark, who died earlier in the season.
California’s Miki Glenn works her way to the basket during the first half against Virginia State University.
CALIFORNIA – Jess Strom, the fourth-year coach of the California University women’s basketball team, has been saying all season her team has a good bench, even if she’s hasn’t been quick to use it.
Two of the Vulcans’ backups proved their coach correct Friday night as they stepped to the forefront in the second half and provided valuable contributions that helped the Vulcans advance in the NCAA Division II tournament.
Sophomore guard CeCe Dixon and freshman forward Seairra Barrett came off the bench to combine for 23 points, including 17 in the second half, to spark top-seeded California to an 86-75 victory over eighth seed Virginia State in the opening round of the Atlantic Regional at Hamer Hall.
The win advances California (27-4) to the second round against fifth-seeded West Liberty (24-8) tonight (7:30 p.m.). West Liberty, the Mountain East Conference champion, upset West Chester 88-85 in overtime.
Dixon and Barrett, a pair of former WPIAL standouts, combined to score 15 consecutive California points after Virginia State trimmed a 19-point deficit to single digits early in the second half. The play of Dixon, a Steel Valley High School product, and Barrett, from Central Valley, came after the Vulcans worked themselves into serious foul trouble as starters Lana Doran and Irina Kukolj each drew their fourth personal fouls early in the second half.
“We had some kids off the bench who really stepped up,” Strom said. “I hate to even say bench because we have some backups who could start for a lot of other Division II teams. When we scrimmage in practice, it’s hard to tell who the starters are and the backups are.”
It was that way in the second half. Virginia State, which trailed 39-20 late in the first half, stole the momentum and pulled to within 47-38 early in the second half. A free throw by point guard Miki Glenn, who led Cal with 21 points, pushed the lead back to double digits, then Dixon and Barrett took over.
Dixon made a jump shot off an inbounds pass, Barrett scored at the end of a fast break, Dixon cut through the lane for a basket and then made another jumper that gave Cal a 56-38 lead.
Dixon finished with 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
“I think everybody is seeing from CeCe what we’ve been seeing every day in practice,” Strom said. “Last summer, she worked extremely hard on ball-handling and shooting off the dribble. I think we’re starting to see the benefits of that hard work.
“We have players, other than our starters, who can score. On any day, CeCe or Seairra can score in double figures.”
Barrett, who finished with 11 points, had another layup and a three-point play that made it 63-46.
Virginia State, however, managed to stay within striking distance until the final minute. Senior forward Tiffanie Addair had a big game in the low post, scoring 25 points, but the Trojans couldn’t overcome 28 turnovers, including 17 in the first half when Cal forged a 45-30 lead.
“We knew California would come out with a high energy level and we didn’t match that,” Virginia State coach James Hill Jr., said.
Cal, which had a shootaround at 10:30 a.m., then sat in the bleachers until its game began nine hours later, showed no signs of being lethargic. The Vulcans raced to leads of 22-10 and 39-20. Glenn scored 14 points in the first half.
Emma Mahady (17 points) and Kaitlynn Fratz (16 points, five assists) gave Cal five players in double figures. Kokulj had nine points.
Jessica Lyons had 18 points and Dashae Jones 10 for Virginia State (20-10).
Cal and West Liberty will be meeting for the second time. The Vulcans defeated the Hilltoppers 78-68 at the Convocation Center in mid-November. Strom cautioned not to read too much into that result.
“Teams improve as the season goes along,” she said. “We do know what they like to do, and that’s shoot a lot of three-pointers and set a lot of screens.”